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With a professional career starting at the early age of seventeen, drummer Ray Hangen defines the term “deep in the pocket.” Whether playing blues, country, funk, jazz, rock, R&B, or zydeco, Hangen hits a hard and hot beat as steady as it grooves, preferring subtle and tasteful fills and flashes, to any hint of bombast. On the touring circuit, Hangen is known as an ace at dialing in to any rhythm. No matter the setting or style, the pocket is locked in when Ray Hangen is behind the kit. When he is not on the road, Hangen is revered on his local scene in Buffalo, offering many bands a steady and stellar beat, while others build their sound around his groove., Ray is also often a first-call player providing support for many national acts passing through town.

Over the years, Hangen has been hired by many renowned blues artists for full tours, recording sessions, and special appearances. These artists have included Joe Beard, Scott Sharrard, Lurrie Bell, Eddie Kirkland, Lou Pride, Joe Louis Walker, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Giles Robson, Brandon Santini, Dave Gross, Ana Popovic, Greg Gumpel, Altered Five Blues Band, Oliver Wood, Josh Roberts, and John Nemeth. Hangen has also played with the great Francine Reed, the legendary Bryan Lee, B3 organ great Tony Monaco, Grammy-award winning Tom Hambridge, and the iconic Kim Wilson.

In 2004, Hangen was asked to join the band of lauded Atlanta blues artist, the great Sean Costello. During Ray’s time with the late guitarist, they recorded three internationally released recordings and kept up a busy national and international touring schedule. The band also had the honor of backing blues guitar icon Hubert Sumlin several times, including one legendary night at the 2005 South By Southwest Festival, when the band was also joined by Pinetop Perkins, and Elvis Costello. That night became the topic of a cover story in Hangen’s hometown Buffalo News, not only because of the memorable line up and performance, but because, amazingly, Hangen played that stellar show and finished the entire tour with the use of only one foot. His bass drum foot was in a cast, due to a broken toe. That incredibly high degree of dedication and professionalism clearly illustrates just another reason that Ray Hangen continues to be in high demand.

In addition to touring and recording with the Chris O’Leary Band, Ray was most recently hired by the incredibly talented and highly-respected Bruce Katz to join his band. Since, playing his first gig with The Bruce Katz Band in September of 2016 in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, they have been busy touring around the U.S. and Europe, and creating new material for a studio album due out in 2018.

BRUCE KATZ BAND “SCHNAPPS MAN”
Live at Earl’s Hideaway in Sebastian, Florida

LEROY TOWNES “LETTING GO”
A preview of the pilot episode of “Live From Black Rock.” A Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation Production.

CHRIS O’LEARY BAND “BLUES IS A WOMAN”
Filmed at Pitman’s Freight Room in Laconia, NH.

SEAN COSTELLO “DON’T PASS ME BY”
An original song written by Sean Costello. Live at The Living Room in NYC.

Rob Falgiano “Little Vision” (2017)
Willie May “Blues Mona” (2016)
Willie May “Shaken Tree Blues” (2015)
Sean Costello “In The Magic Shop” (2015)
Ronnie Davis “Movies From The Bunker” (2015)
Tonemah “A Moment In December” (2013)
Ron Davis & Ray Hangen “Acid Funk Duo” (2014)
Rob Falgiano “Nice Mouth” (2013)
Dee Adams “Mile Marker” (2013)
Leroy Townes (2012)
John Kloberdanz “Stumbling Towards Happiness” (2011)
Tonemah “Mulligan” (2011)
Sean Costello “At His Best (Live)” (2011)
Scott Wilson “Kaleidoscopes End”(2009)
The Headers “Don’t Be Talkin Smack” (2009)
Sean Costello “We Can Get Together” (2008)
Shaky Ray “Goin’ Home”
Chris Cannon “Model Citizen” (2007)
Kevin Rochford “Arrow” (2007)
Ronnie Davis Combo “Soul Jazz Midnite” (2007)
Terry Buchwald “Home For Christmas” (2005)
LeeRon Zydeco & The Hot Tamales
“ZY-FI Revenge Of The Roots” (2004)
Terry Buchwald “TCB” (2006)
Terry Buchwald “Big Hunk O’ Love” (2003)
Lori and Korki “Eclectic Gathering” (2002)
Mark Winsick “Straight Up” (2002)
Danny Lynn Wilson Acoustic Band
“Adventures Of The Rooftop Jammers” (2002)
Various Artists “Sounds of Buffalo Blues” (2001)
Alison Pipitone “Shake It Around” (2000)
Chicago Jack “Playing It Kool”
Alison Pipitone “Like Being Born” (1999)
Alison Pipitone “Down To Money” (1997)
Various Artists “That Christmas CD” (1996)
Crash Rooster “Artificial Grape”
Malley (Self-Titled)
Alison Pipitone “Life In The First Person” (1995)
UPCOMING RECORDINGS:
The Bruce Katz Band (2018)
Danny Wilson “Peace of Mind” (2018)
Leroy Townes (TBA)
The Chris O’Leary Band (TBA)

BRUCE KATZ BAND (Current)
CHRIS O’LEARY BAND (Current)
SEAN COSTELLO
HUBERT SUMLIN
PINETOP PERKINS
ELVIS COSTELLO
FRANCINE REED
BRYAN LEE
TONY MONACO
TOM HAMBRIDGE
KIM WILSON
JOE BEARD
LURRIE BELL
EDDIE KIRKLAND
LOU PRIDE
JOE LOUIS WALKER
KENNY “BLUES BOSS” WAYNE
BRANDON SANTINI
JOHN NEMETH
GREG GUMPLE
JOSH ROBERTS
ALTERED FIVE BLUES BAND
OLIVER WOOD
ANA POPOVIC
DAVE GROSS

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